Middle East policy under Donald Trump

Just how the Trump administration will handle the thorny issue of the Middle East remains to be seen. Trump's policy of non-intervention and "pragmatic" alliances with authoritarian rulers is, however, likely to encourage the return of repressive dictatorships, lending them apparent respectability in exchange for guarantees of stability. By Rene WildangelRead more

Persian singer Mamak Khadem

Since the 1990s, the exiled Iranian singer Mamak Khadem has been combining Persian classical music with world music. For her new album, "The Road," she has discovered unusual Eastern European soundscapes. Marian Brehmer talked to the musician and listened to her latest CDRead more

Palestinians in purgatory

The number of internally displaced Palestinians is currently estimated to be around 300,000. A fact the Israeli government is keen to ignore. Hardly surprising, considering that acknowledging IDP rights of return would necessarily entail recognising the events of 1948 in their entirety. By Mona Bieling Read more

Franco-German relations

There was a time, immediately after German reunification in 1990, when many French feared Germany. Today, the roles are reversed. But Germans are not afraid so much of France as for it. By Dominique MoisiRead more

Politics

Middle East policy under Donald Trump

Just how the Trump administration will handle the thorny issue of the Middle East remains to be seen. Trump's policy of non-intervention and "pragmatic" alliances with authoritarian rulers is, however, likely to encourage the return of repressive dictatorships, lending them apparent respectability in exchange for guarantees of stability. By Rene WildangelMore

Franco-German relations

There was a time, immediately after German reunification in 1990, when many French feared Germany. Today, the roles are reversed. But Germans are not afraid so much of France as for it. By Dominique MoisiMore

Military force and drone warfare

During the Obama era, the world witnessed what could be referred to as the 'dronification' of killing. Gone are combatant status, war goals and the option of negotiation. No prisoners are taken; people are just killed and anyone who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time just gets killed along with them. By Charlotte Wiedemann

Charges against Bashar al-Assad

Six German lawyers are bringing a case against Syrian leader Assad for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It may sound naive, but it is a long-overdue step in international law enforcement – and Germany is the perfect venue. By Kristin HelbergMore

Society

Palestinians in purgatory

The number of internally displaced Palestinians is currently estimated to be around 300,000. A fact the Israeli government is keen to ignore. Hardly surprising, considering that acknowledging IDP rights of return would necessarily entail recognising the events of 1948 in their entirety. By Mona Bieling More

New wave of Turkish asylum-seekers

More and more Turks are applying for political asylum in Germany. They feel threatened and repressed by the Erdogan government and they fear for their lives. Most applicants are Kurds, like Mazhar Zumrut. Yet whether or not the Kurd from Diyarbakir may remain in Germany is uncertain. Report by Volker WittingMore

Women's rights in Iran

The "My Stealthy Freedom" Internet campaign is designed to make Iranians aware of women’s rights in their homeland. The project’s aim is to free women from their often passive victim roles and inspire them to start their own initiatives. By Iman AslaniMore

Iran′s image in the West

Journalists, business people, tourists, artists and culture professionals – in 2016 many more foreigners travelled to Iran than in previous years. The visitors often remark on how inspiring the "desire for freedom" and "cosmopolitanism" of young Iranians in particular is, leading to a host of superficial observations. By Stefan BuchenMore

Culture

Germany at the Istanbul Book Fair

Germany was this year′s guest of honour at the Istanbul International Book Fair. This could not have happened at a better time – despite or perhaps because of the political dissonance. By Karen KrugerMore

Remembering ″the Clown of Aleppo″

Anas al-Basha brought joy to children living through the Syrian civil war – helping them to forget the horrors if only for a short while. Now he has been killed in an air strike on Aleppo. By Dunja RamadanMore

Persian singer Mamak Khadem

Since the 1990s, the exiled Iranian singer Mamak Khadem has been combining Persian classical music with world music. For her new album, "The Road," she has discovered unusual Eastern European soundscapes. Marian Brehmer talked to the musician and listened to her latest CDMore

″Cinema Clubs″ in Egypt

Since the revolution of 25 January 2011, Egypt has seen a resurgence of its cinema clubs: places where fans of the "seventh art" (Alain/Schelling) meet, mostly in cultural centres, to watch films together and discuss them afterwards. Islam Anwar reports from CairoMore

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Fleeing war-torn Syria, painter Majd Kara found himself in Lithuania where half the population says they refuse to help asylum-seekers. Now holding his second exhibition, Kara is changing the country's attitude. By Karolis Vysniauskas

The Muslim-owned Shish Restaurant: "No-one eats alone"

Suu Kyi must stop Rohingya 'genocide': Malaysia PM

Aung San Suu Kyi must step in to prevent the "genocide" of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Malaysia's prime minister said Sunday as he mocked the Nobel laureate for her inaction. Addressing a 5,000-strong rally in Kuala Lumpur, Najib Razak said the Myanmar government must stop the bloody crackdown in its far west that has sent thousands of Rohingya fleeing, many with stories of rape, torture and murder. (AFP)More

BBC documentary: "Death in Service"

Beset by allegations of institutional cover-ups, abuse and murder, Egypt's Central Security Forces (CSF) are one of the government's main tools for maintaining order. Their ranks consist mainly of recruits from poor families. "The Central Security Forces are little above serfs. Forced labour," says Khaled Fahmy, a Harvard professor who experienced their force first hand in the 2011 revolution. When will the state come clean and reveal how these young men really died?More

Online magazine "Mada Masr"

The Egyptian online magazine "Mada Masr" regards itself as a progressive independent medium. It was founded following the Arabellion and publishes news, comment, features and photo essays in English and Arabic.More

Moroccan state TV shows women how to hide domestic violence

Women in Morocco have reacted in horror after a programme on state television demonstrated how they could use makeup to cover up evidence of domestic violence. The segment in the daily programme Sabahiyat, on Channel 2M, showed a smiling makeup artist demonstrating how to mask marks of beating, on a woman with her face made up to appear swollen and covered with fake black and blue bruises.More

Protesters have abseiled down the front of Australia's Parliament House with a banner calling for the closure of refugee camps. They demanded better treatment for asylum seekers. The Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance claimed responsibility for the demonstration. A banner was hung by demonstrators who descended by rope down the front of the building.More

Human Rights Watch: Turkey suspends safeguards against torture

"We had come a long way. The anti-torture struggle in Turkey was important. But torture is like a contagious disease. Once it starts it will spread. It is painful to see the reversal taking place now," says one lawyer.More

Documentary: Behind the veil

They can’t leave the house without being clothed from head to toe or drive a car, and they need the permission of a male guardian before they can either work or travel. But behind the veil, their anger is growing.More